New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-10
DENYING CHARGES OF CRUELTY.
CLOSE OF THE ASYLUM INVESTIGATION

DIR. MDoNALD ADMITS MANY DEFECTS DUE TO
ovERCROwDING AND SMALL SALARIES.
Yesterday the last day Of the investigation at tho
Insane Asylum Wards Island The first witness was
Peter McIntire. one of the attendants.
Q-Do you remember occasion when General Egan,
patient, In the yard exercising and you and an
other attendant used him roughly as has been testified
them would not walk around the yard and take exercise
and doctor said to me- Try to get them to walk"
but General Egan refused and said he couldn't We put
our hands under he arms We have to 90 me % e
reported tie to Dr. spencer. He said: Let him
meal times There is no limit to the time allowed.
never knew patients to have to leave the dnnsroom
O-HaYe you ever been intoxicated A.-Once. I
was suspended and then rensated after three weehn
beer or whiskey in WHILE but not in. the wards
William Kearns then testified: .
whom it was testified that You and another attendant
kicked him because he retnsedto take of his clothes!
most OF the patients in bed said: Come along, Mt.
Lydill" He came. and as stopped down to fold up his
thinking after him. and fell Other attcndann
Ca Rs S 0SS bs e $
Aferward lie asked me to forgive him ior MS brutal
and 'd Ssas H Ts
I was never drunk in my life
I'VE nave to stand patients against the wall some
times so they can't get away while make them a<e
against the wall, and never saw 1t DONE When hear
OF patient being struck report it to the ward doeiot.
and il he is bruised enter IL on the ward book lave
Known patients be injured BY other patients never
by attendants They are more apt 10 sHiAe olnes
patients than to strike attendants
Thomas Fitzgerald said: ,,,..,
had charge OF the patient Chenowh in the hospital
strap here lie didn't anything at all lie d,dn't
know nor Of the IN and
before that boots at a hotel Chenowith's motnsr
never told that he was abused she told me he had
had twenty four epileptic hts IN one day.
Patrick T. Mcclellan was sworn; no. ,.,an, nm
Odd you and the attendant Richie I'LL patent up
and drop him on the ioor A.-No, sir. | was Ia Tag
pantry and the patient came running toward Richie ana
Ss Se aSa lie Rce Both
took hold OF him to take him to another bench ~
mott He fe but got up and walked in to his dinner
matter Dr. Walsh examined him afterward and found
his hp fractured 1t was over twelve months after tne
Thomas Higgins testified in about the same manner. a.
the treatment OF patients and sad: a,,n ono.
in while when feel just Ike IL never In the hospAA
never WIS suspended nor hned
Henry Clifford was next sworn w..
Q-Do you remember the patient fisner A'-io'
OFT was testified that you broke broom.tick over
his head; what have you TO say about that Al never
nun the hall iii the others had gone Attendant
McIugh took him to his room and took on on his S
Ike 70 have him examined and If broke broomstick
over his head he ought to have mark ~, cor.,,,
Milbau one of the committee. who was an army
surgeon lie reported only one sea- ana tat ~ gu
stenhen II Crinsted, j. J. Henderson hd Co3EH
PatroDon also testified as to the treatment patieh0A
Ine sahc cneSe s ~ the methods OF the ton and -
oescIioea dayacs which t was impos bic avoid
,ny yonar S,nds He espe ted that
Tho doctors and attendants could not be id suhci
salaries 10 keep them after they had gazing expensn
enough to be useful The entire cost pfddsy OF eacn
pafient he said was thirtytwo aud one cents IN
c,ling food clothing, salaries and All hscs OK .ne
asvuI5 He read from report OF 1874 showing that
he pointed all the present defests at tet te' ana
asked suricent funds 10 remedy item
The Committee will consider the evidencctnd repors
N tbe Stnte Hoard of Charities soon as possible